“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1, ESV)
This week is the second week of Advent. Yesterday, we lit the second candle on the Advent Wreath. It is recognized as the Candle of Peace. (Here is a great little video about Biblical Peace.) So this week we will be talking about Advent peace. We will be using Isaiah 40 as our Scripture reference.
Isaiah 40 begins with “Comfort, comfort.” Isaiah doesn’t say this once. He says it twice. Why does Isaiah say it twice?
The answer is that when Isaiah wrote this he did not have the benefit of a computer. He couldn’t write things in bold, or italics. Neither did ancient Hebrew have punctuation, so he was unable to add an exclamation point. But what he could do was repeat it. He is adding emphasis by repeating the word. There is comfort to the extreme. This is a significant comfort. Because this is the comfort that comes from God.
Comfort is spoken by God. The comfort comes from him. It originates with him. He is the source of the comfort. And the is no other comfort to compare. Any other comfort will not be as satisfying.
It also says that the words are to be spoken to God’s people. The comfort comes from an abiding relationship with Jesus. Without Jesus in your life, you will not experience this comfort. It is a gift that is received only through faith.
Reflection
- How have you been comforted through your relationship with Jesus?
- When you are distressed, how do you find calm and peace?
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, that you are my peace. You are the one who calms the storms of life. Give me faith to trust you through the noise, commotion, and busyness of life. Help me to rest in you even though the most difficult times of life. Amen.
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